Monday Morning Cheerleader: Casey of the New England Patriots

Playing away from your home crowd isn't easy. Either is changing your offensive coordinator or starting a new quarterback mid-season. These are just a few of the challenges the Ravens and Niners overcame on their way to Super Bowl 47, a match-up no one could have predicted — well, no one except Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Not only did he make his fourth-grade teacher laugh with a written declaration of how he would one day be San Francisco's signal caller, but he's done the job while shattering the running-quarterback stereotype, adding a strong arm and a poised disposition to go with his impressive ground game. He led his team to a win despite trailing 17-0 after only fifteen minutes. The Patriots were not as lucky. Even after leading for the entire first half, last year's AFC Champs Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and New England's defense weren't enough to keep Anquan Boldin and Joe Flacco from living up their bold preseason statements, thus preventing Patriots cheerleader Casey from attending her second consecutive Super Bowl. But, despite the 28-13 loss to Baltimore, she remains as optimistic as a fourth-grade Kaepernick that the team's fiery fan base will have even more to cheer about next season.

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LINDSAY MCCORMICK: Seventeen career postseason wins for Tom Brady, and the game was close the majority of the time, but still a loss. What could you guys have done differently?

CASEY: The team could have executed a lot better on both sides of the ball in this game. Our offense had a lot of opportunities in the red zone that they didn't capitalize on. Our defense did a great job making stops in the first half, but struggled in the second half. I think both the offense and defense didn't play their best game, and the Ravens took advantage of that. I guess it just wasn't our day.

LM: The Weather Channel said winds were up to 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 21 miles per hour. Could you guys feel that? Do you think it was a factor for the team?

CASEY: It was definitely windy on the field. You could feel the wind gusting, especially coming from the open side of the stadium. I think the wind could have played a factor for the team, especially in the fourth quarter when they were trying to play catch-up by throwing the ball downfield. However, the Ravens had to play under the same conditions, so I don't think the team would use the windy conditions as an excuse for the way they played.

LM: Your best cornerback, Aqib Talib, left the game early with a hamstring injury. What did you think about how the defense played without him?

CASEY: The loss of Talib early in the game was certainly a major factor in how the defense played the rest of the game. After Talib joined the team in November, our defense seemed to improve every week. His presence as a shut-down cornerback really changed the team's overall defensive approach and provided stability in the team's secondary. So, losing him for most of the game made our coaches and the other players have to make adjustments to the game plan on the fly. I think the defense did the best they could and were able to make some stops, but they weren't able to be as aggressive defensively as they were with Talib on the field.

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LM: Maybe they weren't, but one referee sure was. He got into the action by tackling Brady. Did the Ravens really need the extra help bringing one of the league's best quarterbacks down?

CASEY: Seriously! What a great open-field tackle. That might have been the play of the game. Brady's not breaking any land-speed records, so you would think the ref would have had time to get out of the way. I guess the football gods just weren't on our side.

LM: But they did seem to be on Joe Flacco's side. He surprised a lot of people and even had stats similar to Brady's in the first three quarters. What did you think about Flacco's comments at the start of the season that he was the best quarterback in the league?

CASEY: I think he was just saying that, as a quarterback, you have to have confidence. He's been able to back it up in the playoffs, which is impressive. His comments definitely showed his confidence in his ability, which is half the battle for a quarterback.

LM: Speaking of the best, what makes Belichick so special?

CASEY: Belichick has been able to get his team to play at an elite level for so long. While other teams and coaches have gone through waves of success and struggles, the Patriots and Belichick have consistently been able to remain at the top. The Patriots know that they're going to get everyone's best shot, and he finds a way to get his players to rise to every challenge. He always tells his players to "do your job," which is a great reminder that they don't have to do everything for the team to be successful, they just have to do their part. He prepares for every possible situation and pays attention to the details in a way that most other coaches fail to do. Plus, he's got great fashion sense.

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LM: Just like all of the fans in your stadium. What is it about the sports fans in Boston — why so much passion?

CASEY: Fans in Boston have been through the highest highs and the lowest lows of being a sports fan. From the years that the Patriots struggled and the 86 years the Red Sox went without winning a World Series to three Super Bowls in four years and two World Series rings, Boston fans have seen it all. They live and breathe Boston sports and are just as hungry for wins as the teams are. Every year, the Patriots are in the hunt for a Super Bowl, and fans know what it feels like to win a Super Bowl, so anything less isn't enough.

LM: What was the stadium, with these fans, like in the second half?

CASEY: There were highs and lows of enthusiasm from the crowd.

LM: How do you keep these knowledgable fans pumped up in the fourth quarter of a game like this?

CASEY: We continue to keep energy high and cheer the Patriots on using signs to get the crowd's attention and by performing until the very end.

LM: If someone had told you that these two teams would play in the Super Bowl, what would your reaction have been?

CASEY: I would have been really upset because that meant the Patriots didn't make it to the Super Bowl. I thought the team had been playing well enough to win a Super Bowl, but unfortunately that's not going to happen. The 49ers and Ravens played better than everyone else at the right time and clearly have enough talent and ability to win a Super Bowl.

LM: So, who wins this one: Niners or Ravens?

CASEY: I think the 49ers are going to take it. They have one of the league's best defenses, and Colin Kaepernick has been playing lights out. He has the ability to beat a defense with his arm and his legs. I've really been impressed with his performance in both of his playoff games. He was challenged at the beginning of both games and responded really well. I think he'll be a huge challenge for the Ravens' defense.

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LM: For some reason, I think a guy named Ray Lewis will be up for that challenge. What are your thoughts on his retirement and, possibly, Tony Gonzalez?

CASEY: Both Ray Lewis and Tony Gonzalez could be considered the best at their position in the history in the NFL. It's a big deal they are retiring. They have changed the way the game is played and have dominated and played at an elite level for so long throughout their careers.

LM: What's next for the cheerleaders?

CASEY: We will continue to work closely with the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and make appearances throughout the community. With auditions for next season quickly approaching we will sadly say goodbye to retiring cheerleaders and welcome young women to attend preliminary auditions which will be held in March. For us, the season never really ends.

LM: And for the guys on the football team coming back, what should they do before next year to have another great season like the previous several years?

CASEY: If we could add some players on the defensive side, I think we could be really successful next year. I would also love to see Wes Welker back in a Patriots uniform. He's done so much for us for so many years, I can't imagine him with another team.

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Lindsay McCormick (pictured at left) has covered the NFL for ESPN The Magazine and CBS. She is the former host of "The Fan" on Comcast SportsNet, where she was the sideline reporter for the Portland Trail Blazers.